John Adams said it was the spark that led to our war for independence. But he said testily that he didn’t have time for “total political correctness”.
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More than a dozen of them faced off in a New Hampshire forum Monday, discussing everything from the Iran nuclear deal to illegal immigration and environmental issues.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee also thought he did well, but like every candidate here, wished he or she had more time.
Trump had to answer questions about using derogatory language about women, switching his position to anti-abortion and claiming the Mexican government encourages drug dealers to cross into the United States. But Trump quickly dispatched any suggestion that he would tone down his rhetoric for the primetime debate by sticking to his earlier playbook, challenging his rivals and the moderators. That back-and-forth was debate platinum, because it was simultaneously fiery and substantive, impassioned and important, a ideal distillation of the two sides of an essential, necessary argument. Paul interrupted. “This is what’s wrong”, said Paul. Christie called that answer “completely ridiculous” because it would be hard to know who’s a terrorist without the data.
Paul shot back, “You fundamentally misunderstand the Bill of Rights….” Now, it’s out in the open.
As most of the candidates struggled to find a moment to shine, Paul said the debate gave him a boost.
Donald Trump is Donald Trump, and he didn’t have to raise his hand or insult Rosie O’Donnell again to prove it.
Paul then directed the exchange toward Christie and his good relationship with Obama following Superstorm Sandy.
Beyond Trump, the forum served as a barometer of how far the other major contenders have to go to convince the party base they’re worth betting on – and to hash out the divisions that have defined the Republican Party in recent years. “Mr. Trump is touching a nerve because people want the wall to be built”, he said.
Instead, he blames the media for turning his comments around.
The candidates reached millions of people Thursday night in the nationally televised debates – a unique opportunity for them to sell their visions for the future to voters from coast to coast.
The trio of moderators – Kelly, Chris Wallace and Bret Baier – could hardly be accused of coddling the candidates. But Trump is unapologetic.
“Most of the folks on the stage last night did not perform in a stellar way”, Huffmon said.
As I’ve noted before, picking on The New York Times is so easy that I really should stop doing it, but sometimes it just has to be done. And I’m proud of standing for the Bill of Rights!
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But Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus said he was not particularly anxious that Mr Trump would end up running as an independent. Rubio asks, noting he only recently paid off his student loans. Marco Rubio did. I also think that Ted Cruz lost, inasmuch as I forgot he was there for most of the debate. The post-debate poll shows that Republican voters were severely unimpressed with the Kentucky Senator. Once paraded across the pages of Politico as the Republican frontrunner, Paul’s poll numbers have tumbled into single-digit territory.
